Last Updated: October 11, 2023, 08:56 IST
BJP faces the task of cooling tempers in Rajasthan where some Raje loyalists have been shown the door. (Getty)
Vasundhara Raje loyalists denied tickets are questioning why BJP has chosen Diya Kumari whose “family had kneeled before the Mughals” and terming Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore an “outsider”
BJP’s ‘bold’ move to put up seven MPs as candidates in the Rajasthan assembly elections has triggered protests from those overlooked for these tickets, including some loyalists of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia.
In Madhya Pradesh, political watchers are surprised by the BJP again fielding 24 ministers despite the talk of anti-incumbency against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government’s leaders.
The Congress list for both states is still awaited, with the party waiting for the auspicious Navratra period to begin from October 15 to declare tickets.
BJP faces the task of cooling tempers in Rajasthan where some Raje loyalists have been shown the door. Prominent among them is former minister and two-time former MLA Rajpal Singh Shekhawat who has been denied a ticket from Jhotwara and three-time sitting MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi who has been denied a ticket from Vidhyadhar Nagar.
In Jhotwara, BJP has fielded Lok Sabha MP Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore while in Vidhyadhar Nagar, MP Diya Kumari has been put up as a candidate. Shekhawat and Rajvi are seen as close to Raje. Rajvi has even asked why the BJP has chosen Diya Kumari whose “family had kneeled before the Mughals” while Shekhawat is terming Rathore an “outsider”.
Those denied tickets in place of MPs like Baba Balaknath, Kirodi Lal Meena, Bhagirath Choudhary and Devi Patel are also protesting. The BJP, however, feels that these candidates, including Shekhawat and Rajvi, did not have a chance to win the said seats and hence the party has chosen MPs to put up a tough fight.
BJP has also gone for some surprises — like putting up eight candidates who fought as independents in the last elections and got a good number of votes though they lost. They are being seen as the best bet against the Congress candidates now. Another surprise candidate is Vijay Bhainsla, son of Gujjar reservation face Kirori Lal Bhainsla, who has been given a ticket in place of Rajendra Gujjar.
Madhya Pradesh Bets on Old Faces
In Madhya Pradesh, BJP’s decision to put up 24 ministers again in the poll fray has surprised some as the speculation earlier was that the party could drop many faces due to anti-incumbency against the cabinet of Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
However, most senior faces have been repeated though BJP is yet to announce the fate of eight other ministers in the Shivraj cabinet. All loyalist ministers of Jyotiraditya Scindia have been given a ticket, raising speculation that Scindia too could contest the elections from the Shivpuri seat which has been vacated by his aunt Yashodhara Raje Scindia. BJP has already put up seven MPs in the elections in Madhya Pradesh in the first list that was declared last month.
